Improvement in stocking-supporters



O. G. SHELBY. Stocking-Supporter.

No. 211,479. PatentedJan. 21,1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER o. SHELBY, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKING-SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,479, dated January 21, 1879; application filed August 6, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that I, GHRIsTOPHER O. SHELBY,

7 of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented an Adjustable Sock-Supporter and Napkin-Holder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan of my supporter or holder. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the supporter applied to a sock on the leg of the wearer. Fig. 3 represents a napkin with my holder applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a section on the line a: :r of Fig. 1.

My invention consists in a sock or napkin supporter formed of two clamping or grasping devices, connected by a single woven strip or piece of webbing, made adjustable in length to conform to the size of the leg or length of the sock, so as to adapt it for the use of young or adult persons, one end of the supporter being attached to the sock by one of the clasping devices, while the other end, after being brought around and above the calf of the leg, is attached by the other clasping device to the portion of the strip extending up from the sock, my said supporter being simple, cheap, durable, and readily applied and removed in an extremely convenient and expeditious manner.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a woven strip, either elastic or non-elastic, but preferably of elastic webbing.

To one end of the strip A is secured a claspin g device, B, consisting of two flat-jawed le- .VGIS, a b, pivoted together by a pin, 0, around which is placed a coiled spring, (I, for closing the jaws. The other end of the strip, which is passed through the looped end of a clasping device, 0, similar to B, has attached to it a buckle, 6, arranged to slide on the main portion of the strip A, by moving which the efi'ective length of the supporter may be increased or diminished.

In applying my supporter, the clasping de vice B is first opened and made to grasp the upper edge of the sock, (preferably on the inside of the leg,) when the strip A is brought up around and above the calf of the leg to meet the lower or standing portion, h, Fig. 2, extending up from the sock, to the edge of which portion h it is attached by means of the other clasping device, 0, this point of attachment being considerably below the level of the rear portion of the strip above the calf, whereby the compression which would occur if the supporter were carried directly around the leg is entirely avoided.

By making the portion h of the strip A which encircles the leg adjustable in length, the supporter may be readily adapted to fit legs of various sizes or to hold up socks of different lengths, while the ease with which the clasping devices can be attached and detached greatly facilitates the operations of applying the supporter to the leg and removing it therefrom; and it will generally be found most convenient to allow the supporter to remain fastened to the upper edge of the sock when the latter is removed from the foot.

It is evident that the above-described supporter may be placed around the neck and used for holding up a napkin, D, as seen in Fig. 3.

I do not confine myself to the clasping devices shown and described, as any other suitable attaching or clamping devices may be used, if preferred; and, if desired, a slide may be substituted for the buckle 6; but I prefer the latter, as there is no liability of its slipping after being adjusted.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a sock-supporter or napkin-holder consisting of a single woven strip, A, provided at each end with a spring clasping device, and having the encircling portion h of the strap A adjustable'in length by means of a buckle, slide, or equivalent device, substantially as and for the purpose described.

Witness my hand this 27th day of June, 1878.

CHRISTOPHER O. SHELBY.

In presence of-- JAS, E. VAIL, J12, GEO. Fusr. 

